RCMP facility expected to open in the fall

RCMP facility expected to open in the fall

The $27-million, 53,000-square-foot project helps the detachment keep up with the demands of a growing population. Detachment Commander Mike Lokken said the facility will give the RCMP the option to deliver fully integrated police services to the community by putting everyone under the same roof.

It will not be long before the Parkland RCMP is fully operating out of their new facility on Highway 16A at Jennifer Heil Road. The building will house existing uniformed and plain clothed officers from the Spruce Grove and Stony Plain detachments, along with traffic services, who currently operates out of Edmonton.

“We’ve had a sneak peak tour of the building at a couple of different times. Once halfway through the project and once when it was nearing completion. It’s a monstrous building. The detachment is going to be another state of the art facility that is going to provide the opportunity for advanced policing,” said City of Spruce Grove mayor Stuart Houston.

The $27-million, 53,000-square-foot project helps the detachment keep up with the demands of a growing population. Detachment Commander Mike Lokken said the facility will give the RCMP the option to deliver fully integrated police services to the community by putting everyone under the same roof.

City of Spruce Grove and Town of Stony Plain councils originally voted to put the project in motion in 2014. At the time, it was slated for completion in 2017 but has since been pushed back to the fall of 2019.

Now the building stands proudly with the word POLICE boldly emblazoned across its face at one of the busiest intersections in the Tri-Region, inching closer to completion every day.

“This provides the opportunity for better policing with an integrated detachment working together in a cohesive environment. Which will include new sherifs coming to town,” said Houston. “When they open the building in early September, there will be around 145 staff working there.”

The City and the RCMP intend to hold a grand opening for the facility upon completion. Lokken has already gotten his sneak peak at the work in progress as well and he was also impressed with what he saw.

“I had a tour of the building and everyone is very excited because it is looking great. It’s a long way from where we are right now so I think a stable work environment will be phenomenal for anybody the building services,” said Lokken earlier this year.

The opening of the facility is set for sometime over the next two months.